Safety-cover for gondola cars.



C. H. AVERY.

SAFETY COVER FOR GONDOLA CARS.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 11,1915.

Patented Muy 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS- SHEET l.

mmm@

5 zhzyj. .e2 5a C. H. AVERY.

SAFETY COVER FOR GONDOLA CARS.

CLYDE H. AVERY, OF WNDSOR, VERMONT.

SAFETY-COVER FOR GONDOLA CARS.

Application led May 11, 1915.

To @ZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYoE H. AVERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at W'indsor, in the county of Windsor and Stat-e of Vermont` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Covers for Gondola Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to a new and improved safety cover for gondola cars. It is well known that, in the transportation of cars of this type, especially in certain localities, large quantities of coal or other commodities carried therein are stolen 'by reason of the fact that the cars are open and unprotected at the top. Numerous attempts have been made to overcome this ditliculty by providing various kinds of covers to prevent the entrance of the marauders, yet up until the present time none of these devices have proven successful. The majority-of thexdevices appear to be too heavy, whereby they cannot be easily and quickly operated and by reason of the complicated structure the cost of manufacture is beyond reason.

My present invention has therefore been devised with view of providing a cover that is easily and quickly operable,'it being eX- ceedingly light, yet durable, and by reason of its simple construction, it is believed that the same may be manufactured at acom-` paratively low cost.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent during the continuance of the following description.

The above and other objects which will become apparent, are accomplished by such means as are shown in their preferred form in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more specifically Vpointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a car body of the gondola type, illustrating my invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 also illustrating my invention partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my invention as it appears in Fig. 1. Fig. a is'a sectional View taken on line la of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the adjacent arrow. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented May 9, 1916.

Serial No. 27,408.

3 looking in the direction indicated by the adjacent arrow.

Upon reference t-o the accompanying drawings it will he recognized that my invention has been illustrated in connection with a car body of the gondola type. However in view of the fact that there are numerous forms of gondola. cars, it is to be appreciated that my invention is. not limited to use in connection with that form illustrated.

The car body A includes the slanting end piece B and carries a bolster C of the usual type. The bolster C is supported on a truck D, which carries wheels E for engagement with the respective rails (not shown).

As it is the primary object of my invention to provide a device to form a suitable cover for a car body of this type, I have found it advantageous to arrange this cover in sections which/may be operated independently. By arranging the cover in this manner, the same may be easily and quickly operated by one person.

In reducing my invention to practice, the respective end pieces B of the car are provided with suitable frame structures which, carrying a section of reticulated material, form the ends of my improved cover apparatus. 1n view of the fact that the frame work attached at each end of the car body is of substantially the same construction, only one of the end pieces have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings. This frame work consists of vertical standard portions 10, which may be bent adjacent their lower extremities to form the slightly off-set portions 11. By reason of the speciiic degree of inclination of the off-set portions 11 it will be recognized that the same may be moved to fit snugly about the end piece B of the car body and may be secured in a rigid position through the medium of the fastening elements 12. rlhe standard portions 10 are connected at their upper ends with a cross piece 13 and bent at a point substantially intermediate its ends so that its central portion is slightly higher than the respective ends. A second cross piece 14 also connects the standard portions 10 at a point appreciably above the upper end of the car body. In order to complete Athe end piece a section of wire fabric is arranged to extend beneath the cross piece 14 and form vertical sections 15, therespective edges of which terminate at a 'point adjacent the upper portion of the standards 10 and the respective sides of the cross piece 12 The substantially U-shaped bracing strips 16 are employed to be fixed to the frame work of the end piece through the medium of the fasteningelements 17, for

the purpose of retaining the edges of the sections of wire fabric and provide a neat and compact structure.

The main cover apparatus consists of pairs of oppositely arranged coversections which may be of any desired number. In fviewl of the fact that the pairs of coversections are formed in substantially the same manner, one pair thereof will vbe described in detail, thus superfluous and double description will be avoided. Each of the two cover sections consists of the spaced apart horizontal members 18 and 19 which are connected adjacent their respective extremities through the medium of the standards 20. The standards 2O are bent at their upper extremities to extend inwardly a-nd slightly` upwardly and terminate at a point preferably in the plane of the symmetrical axis of the car body. vOther standards, similar to the standards 20, such as indicated by the numeral 21, connect the members 18 and 19 at certain points intermediate the firsty men- .upper bent portions of the other standards,l

and terminate in alinement with the respective, terminals of the standards 2O and 21.

Links are utilized yfor connecting the bent portions 24 of the arms 22 and the upper bent portions of the standards 2OV and 21` and when the cover sections are in a,

closed position, these links will lie in thc position indicated in Fig. 5. For thepurpose of further assuring the rigidity of the cover sections, thereinforcing strips 2V and 27 are. arranged to connect the bent portions 2J: and the upper bent portions of the standards 2O and 21 at a point adjacent their inner terminus, the adjacent edges of the strips contacting as in F ig. 5, when the cover sections are in a closed position. The hinge elements 28 are fixed .to the. members 1S and 19 as at 29 and are pivotally connected to the clements() which are fixedv to the respective side portions of thel car body. ly this arrangement it will be appreciated that the rover sections are each hingedly connected to the car body. whereby either of the sections may be operated independently, if

von the reinforcing strips 27 wheny the coverl sections are in a closed leasing the strain on the brackets.

itis desired "or both ofthe cover sections manipulated easily and quickly.

The respective cover' sections are covered with a suitable reticular material such for instance as wire fabric. The upper edge of the sectionof wire fabric such as indicated by the numeral 30 is secured beneath the reinforcing strips 27 and brought to extend outwardly and downwardly about the standards 20 and 21. Being brought beneath the lower memberklS, the fabric is now continued along the innerfaces of the arms 22 vand. the portions 24 thereof and has its other -providedwith .brackets v31 which rigidly support a walking board 32, the latter lying position thereby re- At one end of each of the cover sections are'ixed c suitable chain elements 33 which may be brought together above the walking board 32. vAnother. chain element 31 is fixed to Hthe cross piece 13 of the end portion of the cover and terminates at a point whereby the locking element 35 may be utilized for the purposel ofconnecting the same with thev chain portions 33. Thusit will be recog- Y nized that the cover sections may be locked in a secure position together withthe end piece of the cover thereby-preventing the operation of the cover sections by unauthorized persons.V Chain elements 36 are carried at the other end of each of thevcover sections, and lmay be connected by a 4locking member as clearly shown in Fig. 3. .With view of limiting the movement of the cover sections'when in anopen position, the flexible, members 38 and 39 are attached at one end to a common hook40 on the car body and at the other end to the hooks .11 carried on the cover sections. -Thus itA will be recognized thatwhen Ithe cover sections,aredrawn outwardly, the flexible'members 33 and 39 will be drawn taut and supportthe same at a suitable angle whereby they may be moved to a closed position quickly and easily.

From the foregoing it will berecognized that my invention consistsV of a .light and durable cover apparatus which, being arranged 1n sections may be completely controlled by one person. 4 v Y ln reducing my invention to practice I find that the form'referred toherein as the lmost practical and preferred emhodiu'lent ris the most eihcient, but realiziug'that certain conditions will necessarily vary 1n con-r 180 currence With the adoption of my device, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of construction and in the proportion of parts may be resorted to when required Without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with an open top car body structure, of a plurality of cover sections hingedly connected thereto, and Walking boards carried by certain of said sections and overlying the other of said sections when they are in a closed position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with an open top car body structure, of a series of oppositely arranged cover sections hingedly connected thereto, the opposite cover sections engaging each other' when in a closed position, at a point in the plane of the longitudinal axis of said car body, means to lock said cover sections in a closed position, and flexible members for limiting the outward movement of said cover sections, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an open top car body structure, of a series of oppositely arranged cover sections, the opposite sections engaging each other when in a closed position, brackets secured to certain of said sections, a Walking board carried by said brackets, means to lock said cover sections in a closed position and means including flexible members having connection with said car body and said cover sections for the purpose of limiting the amplitude of oscillation of said cover sections, substantially as described.

l et. In a device of the character described, the combinat-ion with an open top car body, of a series of oppositely arranged cover sections hingedly connected thereto, each of said cover sections consisting of an outer and inner frame Work, and a section of reticulated material secured to said outer and inner frame work, for the purpose p speciied.

cover sections, opposite sections engaging e..ch other when in a closed position, each otl said cover sections consisting of an outer and inner frame Work, having a section of reticulated material common to both, means to lock said cover sections in a closed position and means to limit the amplitude of oscillation thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination With an open top car body, ot a series of oppcsitely arranged cover sections hingedly connected thereto, opposite cover sections engaging each other when in a closed osition, each of said cover sections consisting oi' an outer and inner frame structure having a section of reticulated material common to both, Walking boards carried on certain of said cover sections and resting at the juncture of the opposite cover sections.

7. In combination with a car body support, a pair of oppositely arranged cover sections hingedly connected thereto, said cover sections engaging each other when in a closed position, a section of reticulated material covering each of said cover sections, brackets carried on one of said cover sections,. a Walking board fixed to saidbrackets and overlying the juncture of said sections, and means tolimit the movement of said sections, substantially as described.

8. .In a device of the character described, an open top car body structure, a pair of cover sections hingedly vconnected therewith, each of said cover sections consisting of an outer and inner frame structure, means connecting said frame g'structures, a section of reticulated material extending about the outer frame structure and also eX- tending about the inner frame structure, a walking board carried on one of said cover sections and overlying the juncture of said sections When they are in a closed position, means to lock said cover sections in a closed position and means to limit the movement of said cover sections.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLYDE H. AVERY,

Witnesses BERT A. WHEELER, FRED M. NEWTON. 

